Pinus cembroides aka Pinyon Pine

Pinus cembroides is known as Mexican pinyon or Mexican nut pine. Other names include Mexican stone pine and pinyon pine. It belongs to the pine family, Pinaceae. Plants For A Future places its native range in the south-central United States. The RHS confirms that it is not native to Britain or Ireland. Chicago Botanic Garden lists it as a tree with an oval shape. Its profile gives no mature height or spread. The supplied species records do not describe its bark or needle details.

Chicago Botanic Garden records yellow blooms from March through June. Its listing divides this season into March–April and May–June. These dates provide a broad guide to its flowering season. The supplied species evidence does not describe the cones. It does, however, give clear details about the edible seeds. Plants For A Future names this pine as an important source of seeds sold in Mexico. This food use accounts for the nut pine common name. The account describes the seed kernel as rich in oil.

The kernels can be eaten raw or cooked by roasting. They can also be ground for bread and cakes. Another use is to turn them into nut butter. These uses make the seeds useful beyond eating them whole. Plants For A Future reports about 14.6 percent protein in the seeds. It also reports 62 percent fat and 17.3 percent carbohydrate. The same source describes their flavour as good. It says these seeds rank high in protein among piñons. It also places them low in starch within that group. Its species entry lists food forests among the plant's uses.

For garden culture, Chicago Botanic Garden specifies full sun and dry soil. It lists USDA hardiness zones 5–8 for this species. These are the direct species-level guides supplied for growing conditions. The garden also records resistance to deer. This trait may matter where deer browse garden trees. Its oval form offers a clear guide to its shape. The supplied species records do not establish a mature garden size. They also provide no species-specific account of pests or diseases. Edible seed use does not establish the safety of other parts.